Wal-Mart drops Paula Deen on day of her ‘Today’ show appearance

NEW YORK (PIX11)- Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Wednesday that they will no longer be working with Paula Deen after the television cooking host used racial slurs that shocked the nation. In the morning, Deen appeared on the “Today” show to speak out about the racial slurs and the backlash she has received.

The once bubbly and energetic Southern cooking star, seemed worn out and distraught during her on-air interview with Matt Lauer, as she attempted to explain her side of the racial slur story. Deen was scheduled to have an interview with Matt Lauer on Friday, June 21st, but claimed she was too exhausted to appear on camera.

Once Deen was finally able to sit down with Matt, she told him that she was still in shock over the ‘hurtful lies’ that were told about her, but she had one main reason to be in an interview, and that was to, “tell you and everyone out there, what I believe and how I live my life.” Deen continued on to say that she believed that everyone is created equal and deserves the same decencies in life, despite their background.

“I is what I is, and I’m not changing,” Deen said to host Matt Lauer. “If there is anyone out there that has never said something that they wish they could take back, please pick up that stone and throw it so hard that it kills me.”

After her shocking admittance of having used the N-word in the past, and her once considering to throw a plantation style wedding, Deen has received an overwhelming amount of outrage from her one time fans and even her sponsors. The Food Network and Smithfield Foods have already dropped her, and her other partnerships such as, QVC and Ceasars Casinos are also on the verge of severing their ties with her.

Wal-Mart said Wednesday that it will not purchase “any orders beyond what’s already committed” from Deen.

Matt asked a series of questions in order to have Deen attempt to tell her side of the story. When Matt asked Paula Deen bluntly, if she was a racist, her response was simply “no, no I am not.”

Deen has posted two apology videos online and also showed remorse during her “Today” show interview. Matt also asked Deen, if she regrets telling the truth while under oath, and in light of her current situation, wishes that she would not have admitted to the things that she did. Deen told Matt that she does not regret her choice to tell the truth, because she was always raised to be truthful and because the two types of people she is prejudice against are thieves and liars.

Paula Deen said despite all the people who have spoken out against her, she still has plenty of supporters and people by her side. Deen, 66, ended her interview with Lauer in tears and still extremely troubled.